Title: One Year Anniversary

Author: Stress

First written: April 18, 2002-May 12, 2002

Edited and replaced: August 9, 2005

Summary: Part III of the Soul Mates Series; When Jack and Stress reach their first year anniversary, Stress tells a friend the story about how they almost didn't get together at all.

In Newsies Square

It was another gorgeous summer day in New York. Stress and David, who had just finished selling their papes for the day, were strolling around Newsies Square, hand in hand. Stress was content and happy for the first time since she had returned to Manhattan the day before. She looked over at David. He was staring straight in front of him with a goofy expression on his face. Stress laughed as she wondered what he could possibly be thinking of that would give him such a comical look on his face.

When her laughter didn't jar David out of his trance-like state, Stress began to sing a merry tune under her breath.

David, snapping out of his gaze, looked up at her in surprise. "I didn't know that you sang."

Now it was her turn to look up in surprise. She hadn't realized that he was still paying close attention to her though he looked like his mind was miles away. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize that ya could hear me. I'll shut up now."

David stopped to face Stress. Still clasping her right hand in his left, he used his right hand to gently cup her face. "You don't hafta stop. In fact, I'd like it if you didn't. I would listen to you scream in my ear if it made you happy because you make me happy. I haven't been able to get you off my mind since I met you yesterday, Stress. I feel like I've known you all me life instead of only two days," he said seriously as he gazed straight into her green eyes.

Stress blushed as she broke the gaze by turning her head slightly so that it fell out of David's hand. "Ugh, what is happening here?" she thought to herself as feelings of immense guilt welled up inside of her. Stress has had plenty of guys say stuff like that to her before and she had never once let it affect her. Ever since she had been with Rip, all those years ago in Queens, Stress had developed a thick skin for sweet-talkers. But this was different. While all the other guys she had ever known just wanted a chance to get in her bunk, she knew that David was serious and meant everything that he said. She started to get angry at herself for getting into such a mess of a situation. When she was around Jack she always felt like herself -- strong and in control. Yet whenever she was with David, she felt weak.

If there was one thing that Stress hated more than anything else, it was weakness.

As she stood there silent for the few minutes it took her to collect her thoughts, she could still feel the pressure from his warm grip on her hand and the heat from the penetrating gaze he was giving her. He was obviously waiting for her to say something.

"David, I--" she hesitated. Though it was true that she did like him, and could even grow to love him, it was also true that the only one she loved at the moment, though it ached to admit it, was Jack.

Though it was only a few seconds that passed from when she started her sentence until she completed her thought, it was still enough time to take a toll on David's emotions. The heat from his gaze went cool as he averted his eyes. She no longer felt the gentle pressure of his hand as he let go of her's and stuck his own into his pocket.

Stress was horrified. He obviously thought that since she didn't answer his proclamation of love for her that she didn't care about him at all. She looked at him for a second, and then spoke his name. "Dave --"

When he looked up at her, Stress was surprised to see that there were tears in his eyes. She stopped for a second and then threw her arms around him as she gave him a long, hard, searching kiss.

They ended their kiss sweetly as they gently pulled their mouths apart. Still wrapped in each others arms, Stress reached up one of her hands and wiped his eyes. Then she slowly moved her mouth right next to his ear and whispered, "Don't ya worry about me, ya big lug. I'm very happy."

It may be true that she didn't have Jack to make her truly happy but David was doing a fine job on his own.